Note: I don't own beauty and the beast
follows the 2017 version more but is a bit of a mix. Will deviate more as the chapters go on, promise.
I love beauty and the beast to death but the live-action remake destroyed the beast's good points and any chemistry between them, and she has more heartwarming moments with Lumiere than anyone, so:
...
The young lady set him down to grasp the hands of her father through the bars. The household staff had no idea the lost man from yesterday had such a stunning girl – or such a brave one, to come looking by herself through the Dark Forest. A tiny spark of hope lit up inside me, just a glimmer of warmth. Could it be the One, someone who could break the spell?
The Beast found them before the woman – Belle, her father said – could figure out the mechanism that opened the cell. This was not a good first impression, Lumiere winced as the Master told her he would not let her father go after the crime of picking one of his roses.
"At least let me say goodbye." She said.
No! Please, stay. Lumiere silently begged. She hadn't run screaming from the Master's appearance, that showed tremendous potential. Her father had darted out of the caste at the sight of little Chip.
The Master growled and opened the cell. Her father clung to her, trying to gather a lifetime of hugs in one. His last hug.
"I'm not afraid." She said, stepping back just a little. Following her lead, he relaxed his grip. Gathering her resolve, she shoved her father across the threshold and closed the door to the cell before her father or the beast could interfere.
"You took his place." The creature growled.
"Of course I did. He's my father."
"You're a fool." He dismissed, and grabbed her father by the back of his collar, dragging him down the stairs.
"Don't hurt him." She cried.
"I'll come back, I promise." Her father called.
Lumiere watched her gaze out of the cell, looking lost and frightened. He could hardly blame her. No doubt she was wondering what she had gotten herself into. The cell she sat in spoke volumes. It sat inside the center of the tower, with two sides stone wall, one side iron bars and the 4th side completely open, its barrier was the void between the outer walls of the tower and a fatal drop. At any moment a prisoner could end their torment by stepping through the opening. She stared down into the darkness far below. What sort of company would she find on the bottom of the pit if she took one more step? He honestly didn't know – or want to know. Lumiere would not let her stay long enough to succumb to temptation.
The cell was bitterly cold, and she wore her summer dress. She would catch her death here. It was criminal enough everyone let the Master put the old man in here overnight. But it simply could not stand that the Master's future wife would spend any sort of time here. "Forgive my intrusion, mademoiselle, but I have come to escort you to your room." A friendly voice called to her from the hallway. She could make out his shadow but nothing more.
"My room? But I thought…"
"What? That 'Once this door closes it will not open again.' I know. He gets so dramatic." The door creaked open. "Hello," he said.
She let out a surprised shriek and hit him with the stool.
"Oh, you are very strong. This is a great quality."
Belle shivered. Perhaps it was a mistake to compliment her strength, for it seemed to conjure questions on why she would need it in a castle with a Beast living in it. He just wanted to put her at ease by being friendly.
"What are you?"
"I am Lumiere."
"And you can talk."
"Of course he can talk… That's all he ever does." A new voice joined them. It was Cogsworth, finally making it to the stairs as they were about to descend. Typical.
She'd gone back into her cell – presumably for anything else she might use as a weapon. She came back out with a pitcher. Gratefully she didn't hit anyone with it. Lumiere was among the more sturdy of the staff. Cogsworth's small gears and cogs could be easily damaged.
"You must forgive first impressions. I hope you are not too startled." He said as he led her down the tower.
"Why would I be startled?" she asked, a hint of hysteria in her voice. "I'm talking to a candle."
"Candelabra, please. And consider me at your service. The castle is your home now so feel free to go anywhere you like."
The clock turned around, pompously. "Except the west wing."
Lumiere waved him away.
"…which we don't have." He finished awkwardly.
"Why? What's in the west wing?" she asked, clearly not buying his lie.
"Nothing."
"Nothing." The clock repeated.
"Storage space."
"Storage space." Came his echo. Some days he really wanted to strangle that clock — what a dreadful liar.
Belle let the matter drop. The room they showed her was the princess suite. Judging by her attire, it was probably grander than any bedroom she'd seen in the village of Villeneuve - possibly larger than her house. Good. The household let this place go a bit. With just a little work, everything would shine again, and they could show her the advantages of staying here. She would dress beautifully every day, and eat only the most delicious foods. They introduced her to Madame Garderobe, and left her to warm up, settle in and adjust as well as she could. Cogsworth had questions, but Lumiere put him off till they reached the kitchens. He wanted Mrs. Potts to hear the plan so at least one other person would be on his side on this. There was a lot to do - but first things first: dinner.
